Digital Commons Network^™

Pelvic Pain Symptoms And Inflammation Among Adolescents And Adults With And Without Endometriosis, Amy Shafrir, Ashley Laliberte, Britani Wallace, Allison F. Vitonis, Christine B. Sieberg, Marzieh Ghiasi, Larry I. Magpantay, Marta Epeldegui, Andrew Schrepf, Sawsan As-Sanie, Kathryn L. Terry, Stacey A. Missmer

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

We evaluated inflammatory markers among 389 surgically confirmed endometriosis cases and 505 controls from the Women's Health Study: From Adolescence to Adulthood (A2A) cohort. Participants reported dysmenorrhea, acyclic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and pain with bowel movements. Using multiplex assays, we measured their levels of plasma interleukin (IL)-1β, -6, -8, -10, and -16, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and -4, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and interferon gamma-induced protein (IP)-10. For each symptom, we computed biomarker-level geometric means (GMs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using multivariate linear regression among the endometriosis cases and controls, with interactions with …

Adoption, Friendships, And Social Skills, Alexis M. Chelle

Sociology Undergraduate Senior Theses

Adoption functions as both an identity status and a source of unique social benefits and challenges for teenagers, informing their experience of friendship. While prior research primarily focuses on individual outcomes and difficulties that adoptees face, such as trauma-related disorders and social skill deficits, it often overlooks how adoptees and their parents perceive these impacts on peer relationships. This study draws on twenty-one in-depth interviews with adoptees ages thirteen to twenty-one and their adoptive parents to explore the role that adoption and adverse childhood experiences have on an adopted teen’s experience of friendships. Findings reveal that despite facing significant social …

Powering Up Clinical Scholarship, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

This presentation explores essential strategies and practical approaches to empower clinical scholarship among healthcare professionals. Topics include defining clinical scholarship, identifying opportunities for scholarly activities in clinical settings, leveraging evidence-based practice, collaboration and mentorship, navigating publication processes, and utilizing institutional resources. The session aims to inspire and equip clinicians to actively engage in scholarship, enhance professional development, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare practice and education.

The Case For Visual Art In Overcoming The Double Empathy Problem, Katelyn Milea Rose Nilson

Theses and Dissertations

A person's cognitive environment--made up of their thoughts, experiences, and tendencies--can affect how they empathize with others. Those with significantly different cognitive environments, such as autistic and neurotypical individuals, may have a difficult time empathizing with one another. This study aimed to facilitate empathy between the two groups by aligning their cognitive environments through discussion about visual art. Five autistic neurotypical dyads completed three discussion sessions where they observed and journaled about a piece of art, discussed their thoughts with each other, and filled out a questionnaire about their experience. All participants also completed a post-study interview. Data from questionnaires, …

Current Issues In Oral Health: Introduction To The Special Issue, Nejat Düzgüneş

Pacific Faculty Work

No abstract provided.

Public Health Simulation Infused Program (Pship) Toolkit, Desiree A. Díaz, Mindi Anderson, Francisco Guido-Sanz, Peggy Hill, Samantha Stephenson, Heather Peralta, Syretta Spears, Geraldine Luzincourt

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Project Narrative

PURPOSE AND NEED

Purpose: Priorities set forth by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) are addressed in the proposed simulation program in an effort to meet curricular needs and foster care to the medically underserved in Florida, further exposing students to public healthcare needs. Interprofessional (nursing and social work) and intraprofessional (undergraduate nurse and Nurse Practitioner [NP]) instruction is essential in the simulation-based education (SBE) program, promoting important content on identifying risk factors and health assessment of the medically underserved community (MUC) (Education Priority 2, §831). Coordination of medical care is a vicarious learning opportunity for all …

Comparison Between Pipeline Embolization Device (Ped) Versus Flow Redirection Endoluminal Device (Fred) For Intracranial Aneurysms: A Comprehensive Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Seyed Maroufi, Mohammad Fallahi, Muhammad Waqas, Othman Bin-Alamer, Manisha Koneru, Joanna Roy, Jane Khalife, Hamza Shaikh, Daniel Tonetti

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: The performance of the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) and relatively newer double-layered Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device (FRED) have been studied for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, but direct comparisons between PED and FRED are limited. The current systematic review aims at comparing the efficacy and safety of PED and FRED.

METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched, and related records were identified. A meta-analysis of double-arm studies comparing PED and FRED was conducted on angiographic and clinical outcomes, retreatment rates, and …

An Instrumental Case Study Of Low-Income, African-American Parents’ Perceptions And Experiences Of Parent-Teacher Relationships In Midwestern, Pk-8 U.S. Public Schools, Rochelle Rolle

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Positive parent-teacher relationships are vital for student success in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, particularly among low-income, African-American parents and guardians. Research suggests respect, trust, and open communication as key factors for cultivating positive parent-relationships; however, race and social class have influenced the development of African-American parents and guardians’ relationships with their children’s teachers. This instrumental case study investigated how six low- income, African-American parents and guardians in Midwestern PK-8 public schools perceive their relationships with their children’s teachers. Using a qualitative method approach, the study was guided by the Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler Model of the Parental Involvement Process and Critical …

Co-Designing A Digital Nutrition Intervention For Individuals With Severe Mental Illness Using The Behaviour Change Wheel, Ciara O'Sullivan, Tara Coppinger, Indika Dhanapala, Alison Merrotsy

Publications

Title: Co-Designing a Digital Nutrition Intervention for Individuals with Severe Mental Illness Using the Behaviour Change Wheel

Purpose: This study aims to develop a digital nutrition intervention for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) residing in high-support mental health hostels, using a theoretically informed co-design approach.

Design/methodology/approach: This study will employ a participatory, mixed-methods approach, incorporating Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) to ensure user-centred intervention design. The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) guides the selection of intervention functions, Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) and delivery methods. The study will consist of three phases: (1) Preparation, (2) Co-Design, and (3) Finalisation.

Findings: Data …

Addressing The Crisis Of Masculinity: The Impact Of A High School Counter-Hegemonic Course On Adolescent Male Identity And Traditional Masculinity Ideology, Thomas Conlon

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

No abstract provided.

Ph.D. Student Researching Rare Bone Disorder She Was Diagnosed With As A Child, Keith Testa

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Stroke Survivors: Predicting Cognitive Outcomes By Stroke Severity, Caregiver Factors, & Social Determinants Of Health, Jason Alexander Blake

All ETDs from UAB

Physical and cognitive disabilities are common following a stroke, often leading to significant changes in survivors' daily lives and increasing dependency on caregivers. These changes can include involuntary retirement, loss of independence, and decreased social engagement, which may necessitate adjustments in living arrangements and long-term care. This dissertation investigates the predictors of cognitive outcomes in stroke survivors, with a particular focus on the roles of stroke severity and caregiver factors. Utilizing data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) project, this research captures the different predictors of post-stroke cognition through biennial assessments. Through longitudinal studies, this …

The Role Of B Cells In A Mouse Model Of Multiple System Atrophy, Gabrielle Childers

All ETDs from UAB

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, fast progressing, debilitating and ultimately fatal movement disorder. The pathological hallmark of MSA disease is the aggregation and misfolding of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) protein in the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes, termed glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs). Accumulation of these GCIs result in progressive demyelination and neurodegeneration of the striatonigral and olivopontocerebellar regions of the brain. Currently, no therapeutics have been approved that slow or halt the progression of this devastating disease. Neuroinflammation, has been increasingly appreciated as a key neuropathological feature of disease, especially activation of tissue resident innate immune cells. Recently, evidence of adaptive immune …

Effect Of Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills On Clotting Factor Vii Activity Percentage, Buthaina H. Hammadi, Najlaa B. Al-Awady, Sura Salman Ejam

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Combined hormonal pills that are used for contraception are widely used around the world as a straightforward, secure, and reversible approach to contraception. Over time, many side effects of these contraceptive pills have been discovered, including prothrombotic effects, one of which is the effect on clotting factor VII.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of combined hormonal contraceptives on FVII active state percentage and, consequently, the prothrombotic risk associated with these medications.

Materials and Methods: It is a case-control study involving 50 users of COC of different types and compared with other 50 non-user controls after obtaining their verbal consent. …

A Review Of The Persistent Burden Of Post-Covid Headaches In Children, Hajir Karim Abdul-Husseein

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

This review focuses on the problem of the headache occurrence in children after COVID. Studies indicated that headaches and fatigue are common long-term symptoms in school-age children following COVID-19 infection. The prevalence of persistent post-COVID headaches in children varies between 5% and 25.4%, often lasting for at least 3 months. Exploration of potential pathophysiological mechanisms of post-COVID headaches in children includes the trigemino-vascular system, viral-induced inflammation, immune system dysregulation, and compromised cerebral blood flow. Age-related immune responses and the expression of receptors like ACE2 may also play a role in pediatric headache development. The features of post-COVID headaches in children …

Exploring Educator Psychological Capital Through Participation In A Coordinated School Violence Prevention Approach, Stephanie Lorraine Neff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study is a description of how educators’ participation in a coordinated approach to violence prevention contributed to employee wellness and school climate. Using principles of psychological capital (PsyCap) theory, archival focus group and interview data were used to describe educator experiences during implementation of a 3-year coordinated approach to school violence in a mid-sized public school district. Findings of the analysis revealed consistent references to feelings of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism throughout the study, but with slight shifts in frequency each year based on both internal (i.e. skill development, relationship-building), and external (i.e. administrative support, policy directives, broader …

Effect Of Access Cavity Preparation And Cement On The Fracture Load Of Translucent Zirconia Crowns, Andrea Fenton, Amir H. Nejat, Edwin Kee, Xiaoming Xu, Albert F. Mcmullen Iii

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of endodontic access hole preparation and choice of luting cement on the fracture resistance of translucent zirconia (5Y) crowns. Materials and Methods: Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) dies, representing a prepared maxillary molar tooth, were milled. Translucent zirconia crowns were milled from 5Y (Cercon XTML) zirconia discs and sintered. Forty crowns were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group) based on access hole preparation (accessed, non-accessed) and type of luting cement (resin cement, resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI) cement). Crowns were cemented on the PMMA dies with either resin cement (Panavia SA Cement Universal, Kuraray Noritake …

Experiences Of Discrimination And Neighborhood Cohesion In Risk Of Poor Mental Health Outcomes Among Older, Community-Dwelling Participants In The Regards Study, Marquita S. Brooks

All ETDs from UAB

Mental health disorders impact approximately 14% of persons aged 65 and older and often are undertreated or underrecognized. Assessment of factors that link environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological factors to overall health and disease is integral to guiding research on health disparities in older populations. Although research suggests associations between environmental factors (i.e., discrimination and neighborhood cohesion) and mental health outcomes, there is limited research on these factors within the U.S. Therefore, our study assessed the relationship between discrimination, neighborhood cohesion, and mental health outcomes in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a national, prospective …

Examining Risk And Protective Factors Of African Americans Who Use Substances, Dominique Ashonta Black

All ETDs from UAB

African Americans (AAs) are less likely to report internalized symptoms and substance use compared to other racial groups but tend to report more severe symptoms related to either condition. Research suggests internalized symptoms and substance use share a causal relationship or an underlying factor that contributes to both conditions. Risk factors such as stress, discrimination, and trauma strengthen the relationship between anxiety and substance use in AAs. A higher prevalence of stress, discrimination, and trauma exposure was found in AAs when compared to other racial groups, increasing AAs risk for internalized symptoms and substance use. While it is important to …

Cardiac-Derived Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Contributes To Physiologic And Pathologic Cardiac Remodeling, Isaac Daniel Campos

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a global health risk that increases patients’ risk for premature mortality and is accompanied by pathologic cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Declining kidney function results in elevations of serum phosphate and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) 23, a bone-derived phosphaturic hormone. Hyperphosphatemia and elevated FGF23 are associated with cardiovascular mortality in CKD. FGF23 can directly target cardiac myocytes via FGF Receptor (FGFR) 4 and induce cardiac hypertrophy and blocking FGFR4 signaling in CKD models reduces cardiac hypertrophy, but not fibrosis. FGF23 elevations are also observed following exercise and during pregnancy, two scenarios of physiologic hypertrophy not associated …

Moderating Role Of Locus Of Control On The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Trust In Ai, Amelia Gillies

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into essential sectors, including healthcare, customer services, and defense, has underscored the importance of user trust in AI systems. Psychological traits such as locus of control (the extent to which individuals attribute outcomes to internal or external factors) and self-efficacy (individuals’ confidence in their ability) have been identified as significant factors influencing trust in these automated systems. Previous studies have independently linked these psychological traits to trust in technology; however, there has been limited exploration of potential moderating effects of locus of control on the relationship between digital technology self-efficacy and trust in …

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 Mediates Sex Specific Outcomes In Sepsis Induced Cardiomyopathy, John Yap

Dissertations

During sepsis, males often experience worse cardiac outcomes than females. Here, we identified pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) as a key contributor to this disparity. PDK4 is a mitochondrial protein that regulates glucose utilization by inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). Using a mouse model of endotoxemia, we induced acute inflammation with a sublethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which caused cardiac dysfunction and significantly increased myocardial PDK4 expression in males but not females. Cardiac-specific PDK4 overexpression promoted LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction in both sexes, whereas cardiac-specific PDK4 knockout provided protection. In wild-type males, LPS disrupted cardiac metabolism by decreasing PDH activity and fatty …

Targeting Eya1 Phosphatase Activity In Mll-Rearranged Leukemia, Lola Badmus

Dissertations

MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) leukemia is an aggressive subset of acute leukemia, accounting for up to 10% of adult and 70% of infant AML and ALL cases. These leukemias are driven by MLL fusion proteins, which recruit epigenetic cofactors to dysregulate gene expression, leading to poor prognosis and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Previous lab work identified EYA1’s role in leukemogenesis, establishing it as a therapeutic target in MLL-r leukemia. EYA1, is a transcriptional coactivator and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). Originally a gout medication, benzbromarone (BBR), was identified in an NCI Diversity Set screen as an EYA1-specific PTP inhibitor. BBR provides a tool …

Benefits And Challenges Of Collaborative Networks Addressing Food System Disruptions During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Dikshya Dahal, Tania Schusler

School of Environmental Sustainability: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted food systems with disproportionate impacts on marginalized social groups, which in the USA included racial and ethnic minorities, working class families, immigrants, seniors, and people with disabilities, among others. The pandemic also greatly affected the operations of nonprofit organizations, which play important roles in disaster response. We explored how social networks supported non-profit organizations’ efforts to address increased food insecurity and food-related business disruptions during the pandemic in the Chicago region, IL, USA. We used mixed methods including a Social Network Analysis (SNA) of 48 organizations and their reported partners plus focus group discussions with representatives …

Plasma Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-7 Is Positively Associated With Age, Obesity, Mortality, And Cancer In Postmenopausal Women, Melissa C Orenduff, Carl F Pieper, Emma H Allott, Michael F Coleman, Su Yon Jung, Mara Z Vitolins, Jenifer I Fenton, Chu Chen, Candyce H Kroenke, Fred K Tabung, Ana Barac, Electra D Paskett, Michael N Pollak, Jennifer Hays-Grudo, Shine Chang, Stephen D Hursting

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Predictors of premature death and cancer development are needed to more precisely identify individuals who may warrant preventive intervention. Circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-7 (IGFBP7) and, to a lesser extent, the IGFBP7/IGF-1 ratio are emerging biomarkers of renal and cardiovascular morbidity. However, their relationships with aging, obesity, mortality, and cancer risk remain unclear.

Methods: This hypothesis-generating study investigated plasma IGFBP7, IGF-1, and their ratio as predictors of all-cause mortality and the incidence of any cancer (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer), obesity-related cancer (composite of 13 cancer types), and breast cancer in a large longitudinal cohort of postmenopausal women. We …

Restoration Of The Tumor Suppressor Function Of Y220c-Mutant P53 By Rezatapopt, A Small-Molecule Reactivator, Anna M Puzio-Kuter, Lizhong Xu, Mary Kate Mcbrayer, Romyr Dominique, Hongju H Li, Bruce J Fahr, Alyssa M Brown, Amy E Wiebesiek, Brandon M Russo, Chris L Mulligan, Hong Yang, Josh Battaglia, Kimberly A Robell, Dafydd H Thomas, Kuo-Sen Huang, Alexander Solovyov, Benjamin D Greenbaum, Jonathan D Oliner, Thomas W Davis, Melissa L Dumble, Melissa L Johnson, Shunbin Xiong, Peirong Yang, Guillermina Lozano, Marc M Fellous, Binh T Vu, Alison M Schram, Arnold J Levine, Masha V Poyurovsky

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Restoration of the tumor suppressor function of tumor-associated p53 mutants, including the Y220C substitution, has posed a significant challenge for therapeutic discovery. In this study, we describe rezatapopt (PC14586), part of a series of compounds designed to reactivate the p53 Y220C mutant. These compounds restore p53 tumor suppressor function by correcting its conformation and enabling it to bind DNA and activate downstream target genes, thus inducing antiproliferative changes in tumor cells. Our findings are supported by biochemical and structural analysis, in vitro and in vivo transcriptomics, and functional data, revealing the recovery of multiple aspects of the wild-type p53 program. …

Comparison Of Open And Laparo-Endoscopic Repair Techniques For Patients With Bilateral Inguinal Hernias, Divyansh Agarwal, Tina Bharani, Nora Fullington, Lauren Ott, Kortney Hodgson, Daelyn Mcclain, Kaela Blake, Michael Reinhorn

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: For primary bilateral inguinal hernias, international guidelines favor a laparoscopic posterior mesh repair due to relatively lower risk of acute and chronic pain, faster recovery, and favorable biomechanical properties compared to open anterior approaches (Lichtenstein, plug and patch, etc.). However, studies comparing open mesh-based bilateral inguinal hernia repairs to bilateral laparoscopic and robotic mesh-based approaches are limited. The Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC) registry includes longitudinal data on bilateral inguinal hernia repairs performed via open as well as laparo-endoscopic approaches. We hypothesize that outcomes for bilateral inguinal hernia repair are similar between open and laparo-endoscopic approaches in the …

Audiological Characteristics And Associations With Psychological Inflexibility, Karen Muñoz, Bailey Sorensen, Aryn Kamerer, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

Purpose:

Method:

Results:

Exploring South Asian Parent Perceptions Of Involvement In Their Child’S Schooling, Qazi Mohammed Faaizuddin Biabani

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

No abstract provided.

Posterior Predictive Design For Phase I Clinical Trials, Chenqi Fu, Shouhao Zhou, J Jack Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Interval-based designs represent cutting-edge adaptive methodologies for phase I clinical trials to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). These designs exhibit robust performance comparable to more intricate, model-based designs, and their pretabulated decision rule enables them to be implemented as simply as the conventional algorithm-based designs. In this paper, we introduce the posterior predictive (PoP) design, a novel interval-based design that leverages advanced Bayesian predictive hypothesis testing techniques for dose escalation and de-escalation. Our work moves beyond the existing model-assisted interval-based designs by achieving global optimality in dose transition. Theoretically, the global optimality ensures that the proposed design can consistently …